To wonder how the Cummings travelled 4.5hrs with a small child without needing the loo?

[Loulabella]

If they managed it, they have more impressive bladders than my family!

Well they are expecting some teachers to teach in their bubbles for 6 hours without having a loo break so maybe they are basing that on his families’ bladders of steel.

I can go all day without needing the loo tbf the other day at work, I realised just before I left, I hadn’t gone all day. That’s 8 and a half hours

Another question- this was the time when the police were stopping motorists on the motorways and asking if their journey was essential. Why was he not stopped? Were they already informed of his journey as he is 'oh so important' and so he just got waved on?

We drive it all the time - never stop for petrol or the loo if we drive at night. Which we certainly used to do when child was small.

Doesn't he drive one of those god awful Range Rovers? Bet that doesn't do 300 miles to the tank

I’ve done it many times. 4-5hrs is a breeze. Three ways to do this

• leave early in the morning, say 3 or 4am and the children just sleep in the car usually until 7 or 8 am arrival.
• leave in the evening, say 7pm and the children go to sleep and you arrive just before midnight.
• make sure everyone uses the toilet before you leave and then have NO snacks or drinks in the car.

I regularly drive 260 miles from the midlands to Scotland (well, I used to!). When it was just dh and I we did the 4.5/5 hour journey without stopping no problem. Since we’ve had kids we always have to stop once for a wee. Petrol is no problem though, I only use half a tank on that journey. I’d be very surprised at not having to stop with a 4yo (unless travelling overnight maybe).

A diesel Range Rover can certainly go up to 380miles on a full tank of petrol. They are bigger vehicles with lower mpg, but they have larger fuel tanks to compensate.

He could have pulled over on the road for the kid (off the motorway), I’ve driven that far on one tank of petrol easily

Another thing is when the children were toddlers, we did carry a potty in the back of the car. So they could have a wee without needing a service station. With toddlers who are toilet training, they often feel the urge to pee but cannot hold it. So we had the potty for urgent roadside stops in a lay-by.

Those who think 260 miles isn’t far. Don’t forget he had to get out of London first. It’s not the same as driving from midlands to Scotland.
Besides there is no defence. He was totally wrong and should be sacked and fined.

“An adult wouldn't manage that drive without needing at least 1 break for a wee, coffee, something to eat.”

Hah. I can easily drive 4-5hrs with no break. I used to drive 6hrs straight most weekends with no break. The longest I have driven with no break was 10hrs and that was driving a moving lorry with a 14ft trailer with my car on it towed behind me.

Is he still saying he was ill as well?

Because if so, who the hell could face that journey feeling really unwell while driving all that way? And if it was only his wife who was unwell then surely the journey can only be called ‘unnecessary’ as the child had another, well, parent at home to look after him.

The bottom line is, they shouldn’t have gone. The rest of us had it drummed into us that we couldn’t use grandparents as childcare, couldn’t go to second houses etc as the journey was unnecessary. The (most of the) rest of us were following the rules. There were threads on here about how our children would have to go into temporary foster care if we were really ill, rather than to grandparents! Then along he comes and does whatever the hell he wants. It’s a total slap in the face to law abiding citizens and Boris should have come down on him like a ton of bricks!

We did an 8.5 hour journey last summer with a 3 and 5 year old without stopping.

For those of you who drive 5 hours without a break haven’t you read the Highway Code which recommends regular breaks every 2 hours. Also driving at night when tired is probably not a good idea without a break. HGV drivers have to take a break after 4.5 hours. There are good reasons for this.

Considering he was taking a huge risk in his position doing that he probably planned it so they didn't have to stop - full fuel tank and portapotty. Can you imagine if photos came out accompanying these reports? Doubt he would have been able to squirm out of that like he has done (shame)

BammBamm not even to swap drivers? That is very unsafe.

@PlanDeRaccordement A diesel range rover doing that MPG on a full tank of petrol is very impressive. A large fuel tank does not compensate for using the wrong fuel.

Travel at night?

I don't really give a shit if they stopped or not, there is a fairly good chance they didn't.

He still happily broke the rules whilst all the rest of us mugs were 'staying at home'.

Presumably his wife doesn't want to discuss, to the nation, peeing in a bush. Would you want to?

I can’t believe there are so many people on here proudly saying how many hours they can drive without a break. It is thought that 20% of RTAs are caused by tiredness.

Simon.
So diesel is not a type of petrol? Sorry if misused the word petrol.

An adult wouldn't manage that drive without needing at least 1 break for a wee, coffee, something to eat

Why, is there something wrong with their bladder control, caffeine addiction, or blood sugar levels. What nonsense.